SAA Carry Holster

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Mark_Mark said:
I think more people will start carrying SAA, once they figure out how cool it is and being a cowboy is making a come back.
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Mark_Mark said:
you think carry 2 SAA is over kill?
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One need not be a “cowboy” to like single-action sixguns. ;) I did have a horse, when I was a teenager, largely to earn some “points” toward being accepted by a veterinary college. (I did not remain on that educational/career path; sometimes I wonder what that would have been like.) My mother and aunt own ~26 acres of what used to be my great-grandparents’ larger farm, and a distant cousin rotates some cattle on that land, for grazing. My grandparents used to keep one cow, on their smaller acreage. So, I do have just a bit of cattle raiser in my DNA.

Whether or not two sixguns is “overkill,” well, “it depends.” There are compact autos that hold more cartridges than do two sixguns. Regardless, one’s choice of packin’ pistols, and how many of them, can be fun, and there is nothing wrong, with that. The weight of two loaded, full-sized, single-action sixguns, plus a modest amount of spare ammo, would make their presence felt.
 
Rexster said:
One need not be a “cowboy” to like single-action sixguns. ;) I did have a horse, when I was a teenager, largely to earn some “points” toward being accepted by a veterinary college. (I did not remain on that educational/career path; sometimes I wonder what that would have been like.) My mother and aunt own ~26 acres of what used to be my great-grandparents’ larger farm, and a distant cousin rotates some cattle on that land, for grazing. My grandparents used to keep one cow, on their smaller acreage. So, I do have just a bit of cattle raiser in my DNA.

Whether or not two sixguns is “overkill,” well, “it depends.” There are compact autos that hold more cartridges than do two sixguns. Regardless, one’s choice of packin’ pistols, and how many of them, can be fun, and there is nothing wrong, with that. The weight of two loaded, full-sized, single-action sixguns, plus a modest amount of spare ammo, would make their presence felt.
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2 six shooter, a Prius, and a tube of horse Ivermectin!

All set for Cowboy Action 2021 style
 
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RealGun said:
For me, IWB with a large gun would require the next size larger pants and suspenders. Not happening. Glad it works for others.
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I been buying +2 size up pants and I wear a stiff velcro belt (inner Bladetec belt). Been doing it for years. The heavy gun I carry is a CZ Shadow 2 with light and SRO red dot, well over 50oz, and no problem conceal carrying it. I really want to carry a SAA IWB!

2E7560D7-E040-47E3-980A-C806576E4AE8.jpeg
 
Revolvers have worked well for me, inside the trousers. Forward of the hip, the inguinal crease provides a nice area to accommodate the cylinder, and the rest of the weapon, that is inside the trousers, is quite slim. Somewhere along the way, the “AIWB” terminology became popular. Behind the hip, there is a similarly depressed area, that worked to accommodate the cylinder, though I rarely carry IWB behind the hip, these days, as the aging right shoulder really gripes at me, when I try to pull a large handgun from that position. (I may, eventually, start carrying the larger weapon lefty IWB, even if I persist in continuing to carry a weapon on the right side. My left shoulder and arm have aged much better, but it is easier to train the left hand to shoot, than to train the brain and nervous system to remember to reliably reach for the left hip, in an emergency contact situation.)

I have routinely carried a weapon as large as an S&W N-Frame, in IWB holsters. Eventually, I learned that my trigger finger is simply not long enough to properly reach an N-Frame trigger, when shooting DA. That was about the time that my aging S&W Model 58 started developing a timing issue, so I transitioned to a Colt Stainless Commander, for duty and personal-time carry. I kept using revolvers, of course, but retired the Model 58.

I have been occasionally carrying a USFA Single Action, in a Thad Rybka IWB, that I found pre-owned, on the evil-bay. It is straight-drop, and I have used it at AIWB. (I edited this paragraph, after examining the holster, and finding the distinctive “TR” initials.)
 
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I have tried, and used, the Mernickel PS-6SA holster, and it was fine for awhile, but as the holster got older I found that the gun was just a mite too high for me. The same is said for those inside the waistband holsters, gun is too high. I find I can no longer bend my arm enough to lift the gun clear of leather without some contortions.

For youth, a slide type holster is fine, and very concealable. Fortunately, my state does not require concealment.

Bob Wright
 
Gordon said:
I like Bob's post above and Three persons design holsters BUT check this old Bianchi 126 ( also 127 and 128) Berne's Martin style cross draw holsters ( on eBay as they are long discontinued) . It's what I m carrying my new to me .44 special 4 5/8" Blackhawk :. View attachment 1031770
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Looks to me like that snap strap sort of defeats the purpose of the spring clip holster? Having to unsnap that is an extra move when drawing.

Bob Wright
 
BobWright said:
I carry a Single Action almost daily, calling my Ruger my "American Express Gun", as I never leave home without it.

I break all of the rules, but since its my hide I'm looking after, I figure I can do that. Here is my preferred carry:

View attachment 1031767

If, and when I need to go to work in a hurry, I brush aside my vest/jacket with my elbow. My hand just naturally falls on the gun butt. My thumb goes to the hammer spur and my finger goes to the trigger. I lift the gun clear of leather, cocking the hammer as I do so. As the gun comes level, I press the trigger.

Since this is my practiced draw, cross draw holsters are out for me, as I cannot find the hammer spur positiviely enough. And the holster must not be too high nor have too much forward rake. Too much forward cant, or rake, does not permit my thumb to get a firm purchase on the hammer spur.

My thoughts, my practice.

Bob Wright
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Anyone that thinks a single, so properly wielded by a man of character and skill, is not an effective personal defense weapon is a fool.

One can go to any Cowboy Action Shooting event and see just how fast a single can be run. In addition, there is no simpler and more robust reliable a pistol design yet as something like the Ruger Blackhawk. The dependability is off the charts. Combine this with very good accuracy and the ability to take such potent cartridges as the venerable .45 Colt, and it can be an EXTREMELY effective firearm.

As for the issue of firepower, multiple studies over many years have shown 6 rounds is statistically more than enough and the vast majority of the time, the situation is resolved with just the presentation of the firearm. When firing is required, 1-3 rounds solves something like 99% of all civilian firearms defensive scenarios.

I don’t carry my Blackhawk simply because I am a small man in a hot city and must dress light and simply can’t conceal them at all. But for those that can, you are well armed and don’t let anyone tell you differently.
 
BobWright said:
Looks to me like that snap strap sort of defeats the purpose of the spring clip holster? Having to unsnap that is an extra move when drawing.

Bob Wright
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Not an extra if you have the modern straight trigger finger habit. And I don't like straps, usually , but it does add security in that contraption.
 
Mark_Mark said:
great looking rig! you carry open?

I’m on Seattle and I like to blend as much as possible
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I was carrying open , which I normally wouldn't and don't , but at the place noted I did to deter the nasty tweekers that were there en masse last year . There were not many police around, much ANTIFA action setting fires and aggressive attitudes to normal citizens last year before the elections by the "street" people. The Big Iron on the hip still has a quenching effect I guarantee .
 
Gordon said:
I was carrying open , which I normally wouldn't and don't , but at the place noted I did to deter the nasty tweekers that were there en masse last year . There were not many police around, much ANTIFA action setting fires and aggressive attitudes to normal citizens last year before the elections by the "street" people. The Big Iron on the hip still has a quenching effect I guarantee .
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if it comes down to having to carry open for the sake of safety, I’m going to carry my rifle. I will avoid any fights, battles, ego match road rage… but if you hurt me or my family, it won’t be good.

I really want to learn to carry and use a SAA effectively.
 
Gordon said:
I carried this a year or so around Cave Junction Oregon when I went there . I was gonna use it for SASS but went more traditional
View attachment 1032077

View attachment 1032078
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I use nickel plated cases for ammo left in a belt. Otherwise, when you need it, you will find the brass glued to the leather due to verdigris. Hopefully you took precautions.
 
Come to think of it, in the far distant past, cartridges (factory ammunition) were nickel plated that were popular with law enforcement agencies and carried in leather loops. These included the .38 S&W, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .45 Colt, and .32 S&W Long. All of these were popular with police departments back in the days the revolver was king. The one exception to that was the .38 Super auto cartridge, which was nickel plated to identify it as the Super loading and nont the .38 ACP. Now nickel plating doesn't really signify a thing except that the round is nickel plated.

Bob Wright
 
Mark_Mark said:
I really want to learn to carry and use a SAA effectively.
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Not a thing wrong with this, but, start slowly, and get it right. A good set of proper screwdrivers is a good place to start, because so many folks bugger the screws, and/or the area around the screw holes. So many pre-owned Colt SAAs have evidence of incorrect screwdriver usage. Brownells is a source for the proper screwdrivers, and bits.one can order an SAA-specific set, of either.

Another fundamental is to always run the hammer through its full cycle, rather than letting the hammer down from any partially cocked position. The first “click is a “safety notch,” which user experience has shown to not be as safe as one would want. Half-cock frees the cylinder, for rotation. The correct way to achieve an empty chamber, under, under the hammer, is to arrange the cylinder so that pulling the hammer to full cock, and then lowering the hammer, places the empty chamber under the hammer, at the top-most position. The load one, skip one, then load four more, pull to full cock, and then lower the hammer, does this, without having to look at the weapon. The trick is learning to return to that carry condition, if one has had to draw and cock the weapon. This, to, can be done by feel, if darkness, or another condition, makes looking at the weapon problematic.

Manipulating the hammer, so that it is let-down, or falls, from any position other than full cock, accelerates wear. It is said that an SAA should not have a “turn ring,” and that mis-handling the hammer is what gouges the turn ring into the cylinder. I always handle the hammer properly, and my SAA-pattern revolvers have no turn rings. I am not an expert, but try to listen when experts talk/write.

There is nothing, at all, wrong with selecting a post-1973 Ruger single-action revolver, so that one can safely carry six loaded chambers, and not have to worry about arranging for an empty chamber to be under the hammer.

Fanning is rarely, if ever, a good idea, when firing live ammo, but slip-shooting can be quite accurate. The trigger can remain pulled, to the rear, while the shooter manipulates the hammer, to fire the weapon. The thumb manipulates the hammer, in way that allows the hammer to slip from under one’s thumb.

I would not fan an all-chambers-empty SAA-pattern weapon, or other SA revolver, either. Parts wear is much accelerated.

I brought an SAA-pattern USFA Single Action with me, this morning, while taking a student to school. I did have a small autoloader, in my front pocket, too. (USFA actually bought the old Colt factory, in Hartford, and built excellent SA sixguns, in the Nineties, and did such a good job, that it “scared” Colt into upping the QC of their SAA production.)
 
Rexster said:
Not a thing wrong with this, but, start slowly, and get it right. A good set of proper screwdrivers is a good place to start, because so many folks bugger the screws, and/or the area around the screw holes. So many pre-owned Colt SAAs have evidence of incorrect screwdriver usage. Brownells is a source for the proper screwdrivers, and bits.one can order an SAA-specific set, of either.

Another fundamental is to always run the hammer through its full cycle, rather than letting the hammer down from any partially cocked position. The first “click is a “safety notch,” which user experience has shown to not be as safe as one would want. Half-cock frees the cylinder, for rotation. The correct way to achieve an empty chamber, under, under the hammer, is to arrange the cylinder so that pulling the hammer to full cock, and then lowering the hammer, places the empty chamber under the hammer, at the top-most position. The load one, skip one, then load four more, pull to full cock, and then lower the hammer, does this, without having to look at the weapon. The trick is learning to return to that carry condition, if one has had to draw and cock the weapon. This, to, can be done by feel, if darkness, or another condition, makes looking at the weapon problematic.

Manipulating the hammer, so that it is let-down, or falls, from any position other than full cock, accelerates wear. It is said that an SAA should not have a “turn ring,” and that mis-handling the hammer is what gouges the turn ring into the cylinder. I always handle the hammer properly, and my SAA-pattern revolvers have no turn rings. I am not an expert, but try to listen when experts talk/write.

There is nothing, at all, wrong with selecting a post-1973 Ruger single-action revolver, so that one can safely carry six loaded chambers, and not have to worry about arranging for an empty chamber to be under the hammer.

Fanning is rarely, if ever, a good idea, when firing live ammo, but slip-shooting can be quite accurate. The trigger can remain pulled, to the rear, while the shooter manipulates the hammer, to fire the weapon. The thumb manipulates the hammer, in way that allows the hammer to slip from under one’s thumb.

I would not fan an all-chambers-empty SAA-pattern weapon, or other SA revolver, either. Parts wear is much accelerated.

I brought an SAA-pattern USFA Single Action with me, this morning, while taking a student to school. I did have a small autoloader, in my front pocket, too. (USFA actually bought the old Colt factory, in Hartford, and built excellent SA sixguns, in the Nineties, and did such a good job, that it “scared” Colt into upping the QC of their SAA production.)
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thanks for the write up! I do appreciate it!

oooh no
0609DE8B-C2A3-44D0-B050-EDE95EA14FB0.jpeg
 
Mark_Mark said:
I’m going to try fanning on my 1873! but with laser training rounds
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As to fanning, note that it is very hard on the cylinder slots as the rapid rotation of the cylinder slams those notches against the locking bolt. This will lead to elongation of those slots.

Many, many years ago quick draw enthusiasts had their cylinders case hardened to minimize that damage. Fine as long as blanks only were used, which they did. But a cylinder so hardened could burst using full power ammunition.

Bob Wright
 
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